Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 46

Śrāddha-prayoga: Niyama, Brāhmaṇa-parīkṣā, Kutapa-kāla, Tithi-nyāya, and Vaiṣṇava-phala

Devanagari script

ततोऽन्नाग्रं समादाय घृतयुक्तं विचक्षणः । अग्नौ करिष्य इत्युक्त्वा तेभ्योऽनुज्ञां समाहरेत् ॥ ४६ ॥

Transliteration

tato'nnāgraṃ samādāya ghṛtayuktaṃ vicakṣaṇaḥ | agnau kariṣya ityuktvā tebhyo'nujñāṃ samāharet || 46 ||

Translation

ثم يأخذ الحكيم أطيبَ جزءٍ من الطعام الممزوج بالسمن (ghee)، ويقول: «سأقدّم هذا في النار». وبعد أن يقول ذلك، فليستحصل منهم الإذن.

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: देश/काल-अव्यय (adverb: then/thereafter)

• अन्न-अग्रम्: the foremost portion of food
• अन्न-अग्रम्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (अन्नस्य अग्रं), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• समादाय: having taken
• समादाय: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+आ+दा (धातु) → समादाय (ल्यप्)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), ‘having taken/collected’

• घृतयुक्तम्: mixed with ghee
• घृतयुक्तम्: Karma-viśeṣaṇa (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घृत (प्रातिपदिक) + युक्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (घृतेन युक्तम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — Neuter, Accusative, Singular; qualifying अन्नाग्रम्

• विचक्षणः: the discerning one
• विचक्षणः: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विचक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अग्नौ: in the fire
• अग्नौ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन — Masculine, Locative (7th), Singular

• करिष्ये: I shall perform
• करिष्ये: Kriyā (क्रिया; quoted)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (simple future), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद — Future, 1st person, Singular; ‘I shall do’ (as quoted speech)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरणार्थक-अव्यय (quotative)

• उक्त्वा: having said
• उक्त्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) → उक्त्वा (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), ‘having said’

• तेभ्यः: from them / from those (Pitṛs)
• तेभ्यः: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/to them)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/सर्वत्र, पञ्चमी (अपादान/प्रदान-सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन — Ablative (5th) / Dative-like sense by context, Plural; ‘from them/to them’

• अनुज्ञाम्: permission
• अनुज्ञाम्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• समाहरेत्: should obtain (their) consent
• समाहरेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+आ+हृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद — Optative, 3rd person, Singular; ‘should obtain/collect’

Speaker

Narada (instructional narration within a ritual context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Agni

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in Narada Purana?

It teaches ritual mindfulness: the first and best portion of food is sanctified through an offering to Agni, converting eating into a dharmic act rather than mere consumption.

How does this verse explain the path of devotion (Bhakti)?

By offering the first portion before personal enjoyment, one practices īśvara-arpana-buddhi (dedicating acts to the sacred), a foundational bhakti attitude expressed through daily rites.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is emphasized: the correct sequence—prepare the ghee-mixed portion, declare the intended oblation, and take anujñā (consent) from those present—reflects disciplined Vedic rite-performance.